The national Social Weather Survey of November 21-25, 2020, found 73% of adult Filipinos saying religion is very important in their lives, 9% somewhat important, 3% not very important, and 15% not at all important.
The view that religion is very important has been dominant in all SWS surveys since SWS began to track these responses in December 2015. The latest figure of 73% is 10 points below the record-high 83% in December 2019 but 4 points above the 69% in June 2019.
The survey also found 46% say they attend religious services weekly, 25% monthly, and 27% occasionally. The remaining 1% say they never attend religious services.
This compares to the 2019 average attendance of 44% weekly, 34% monthly, 21% occasionally, and 1% never.
Finally, the November 2020 survey found that in the past three months, 56% of adult Filipinos participate in religious services by attending in person at the place of worship, 24% by watching online or on TV, and 5% both by attending in person and by watching online or on TV. The remaining 14% say they did not participate in any religious service in the past three months.
63% of those attending religious services weekly attend in person
The percentage of those who attended religious services in person in the past three months is 63% among weekly attendees and 58% among monthly attendees, compared to 43% among occasional attendees. Under the pandemic almost one-third (31%) of the occasional attendees did not attend any service in the past three months, making them different from those who say they attended weekly or monthly.
Large majorities across religious affiliations consider religion as “very important”
Regardless of the respondents’ religious affiliation, large majorities say religion is very important in their lives.
Compared to December 2019, however, the percentage of those who consider religion as very important fell slightly among Catholics, down from 84% to 71%.
It also fell slightly among Other Christians, down from 78% to 71%. SWS defines Other Christians as Christians other than Catholics and Iglesia ni Cristos.
It hardly changed among Muslims, consistently the highest in responding “very important,” barely moving from 94% to 93%.
It rose among Iglesia ni Cristos, up from 69% to 88%.
Religion as “very important” declines in all areas except Mindanao
The percentage of those who regard religion as very important is highest in Mindanao (88%), followed by Metro Manila and Balance Luzon (70% each), and the Visayas (64%).
Compared to December 2019, those who say religion is very important fell in the Visayas (down from 85%), in Balance Luzon (down from 82%), and in Metro Manila (down from 81%).
They hardly changed in Mindanao, moving from 85% in December 2019 to 88% in November 2020.
Source: Social Weather Stations